EU Parliament blames Russia for Black Sea ship attacks
MEPs adopted a resolution condemning drone attacks on commercial vessels off Romania and Bulgaria and urged the EU to consider a naval operation.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday blaming Russia for recent drone attacks on commercial ships off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, and called on the EU to consider launching a naval operation in the Black Sea. The resolution passed with 432 votes in favour, 52 against and 88 abstentions.
MEPs said the attacks "constitute a clear pattern of escalation" in which Moscow has systematically targeted civilian shipping, and named Russia as the main factor behind the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea region, according to the text of the resolution.
Bloomberg reported that seven vessels had been hit by drones off the Bulgarian and Romanian coasts in October alone, with more than 24 sailors reported dead, according to an analysis cited by Jurnal.md. Shipbrokers told Bloomberg that maritime traffic through the Black Sea had collapsed, with one broker, Todor Georgiev, saying it was now "dead" in every practical sense.
MEPs praised the quick response of maritime rescue services in Romania and Bulgaria, border police and nearby commercial vessels in helping stricken ships, according to the European Parliament. They also voiced concern over Bulgaria's handling of the Russian threat and urged Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev to match his calls for allied solidarity with concrete action.
The resolution calls on Bulgaria to stop delaying its participation in Nato's anti-drone initiative, and asks EU states, working with Nato, to help Romania and Bulgaria detect and track drones that threaten shipping. It also urges the EU to quickly set up a planned maritime security centre for the Black Sea and calls for unused EU SAFE funds to help Bucharest and Sofia respond to the threat.
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What we know
- The European Parliament adopted a resolution blaming Russia for drone attacks on commercial ships off Romania and Bulgaria, voting 432-52-88.
- MEPs called on the EU to consider a naval operation in the Black Sea.
- Bloomberg reported seven vessels were hit by drones off Bulgaria and Romania in October, with more than 24 sailors reported dead.
- MEPs criticised Bulgaria's response to the Russian threat and urged it to join Nato's anti-drone initiative.
Not yet confirmed
- The figure of more than 24 sailors killed in October comes from a Bloomberg analysis relayed by Jurnal.md; it has not been independently confirmed by official sources.
Why it matters for Europe
Freedom of navigation in the Black Sea touches , the Danube Delta, and grain and energy exports from Romania and Bulgaria, both EU and Nato members. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev took a week after an October 13 strike on the Ukrainian-flagged vessel Chelsea 3 to acknowledge Russia as a likely culprit, a delay MEPs criticised directly in the resolution.
Shipbrokers cited by Bloomberg said the Bulgarian ports of Varna and Burgas were now receiving fewer vessels than Mogadishu, a comparison that reflects how far commercial traffic through the western Black Sea has fallen since the attacks began.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- Jurnal.md: Bloomberg: Rusia deja omoară oameni pe teritoriul UE prin atacurile asupra navelor din apele românești și bulgărești
- Știrile ProTV: Parlamentul European cere UE să ia în calcul o operațiune navală în Marea Neagră. Ce sprijin ar putea primi România
- Observator News: Parlamentul European cere o operațiune navală în Marea Neagră și sprijin pentru România, după atacurile Rusiei
- IPN: The European Parliament condemns the recent attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What did the European Parliament resolve?
- MEPs voted 432-52-88 to blame Russia for drone attacks on commercial ships off Romania and Bulgaria and urged the EU to consider a Black Sea naval operation.
- How many ships have been hit?
- Bloomberg reported seven vessels were struck by drones off Bulgaria and Romania in October alone.
- What does the resolution ask of Bulgaria?
- It urges Bulgaria to stop delaying its participation in Nato's anti-drone initiative and to back its calls for solidarity with concrete action.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.